The Sun. — London, England, 1864-01-04 00:00:00

AGI EN TS REQUIRED. riIHE ROYAL ENSURANCE COMPANY is _ll._ prepared to enterta in applications for Agency Appoint ments from gentlemen having command of Fire and Life Business. The Royal has alwav s been conspicuous for its liberality and promptitude in the settlement of claims. Its annual Income is tic w over And its funds in hand. , exceed £1,00,000 Transfers of Policies from other Companies received with- Out charge for Policy,, whatever the amount. Addre! is, JOHN B. JOHNSTON, Secretary. Royal Insurance C. mapany, 29, Lombard-street. ROYAI, ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under tb a Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison. THIS EVE SING, to commence with (first time) an en tirely new Opt !retta, entitled FAN CIIETIE. Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison. After whict , a Grand Christmas Pantomime, on a scale of unprecedente d ma:nificence, entitled HARLEQ GIN ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON. Doors ci ien at half-past Six—Commence at Seven. THEAT: RE ROYAL DRUR Y-L AN E. 313 nagers, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EV ENNG the Farce of A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER. :Meslsrs. , Walter Lacy, Addison, G. Belmore, the Misses I I eath, R. Leclercq, Murray. To conclu. It , with the new Grand Christmas Comic Panto- Mime of SI NI BAD THE SAILOR ; or, The Seven Wonders of th • Wor hI. Clowns, Messrs. H. Boleno and C. Lauri ; arlequins, Messrs. J Cormack and S. Saville; Pantaloons, Messrs. W. A. Barnes and J. morris ; Columbines, Madame Boleno and 3i4asses Gunniss. Prices as utmal. Box Office open from 10 till 5 daily. TREAT] tE ROYAL DRUR Y-L NE. Man alters, Messrs. Edmund Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVI °,I‘TING, A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER. Messrs. Walter Lacy, Addison ; Miss R. Leclercq and. Miss Heath ; and the Grand Comic Christmas PANTO MIME, written by E. L. Blanchard, Esq.. entitled and founded upon the popular Oriental story of SIN BAD THE SAILOR. The gorgeously beautiful character of the decora tions, inclusive of more th.m the usual amount of scenical surprises and transforms 'ion wonders, are ensured by the fact of their being entirely designed and for the most part executed by the celebrated artist, William Beverley, whiise eminent services have been retained this Christmas exclu sively for the Theatre Royal Drury-Lane. The general action f the Pantomime, arranged by, and the whole pro duced under the direction of', Mr. Robert Roxby. Principal characters in the opening by Messrs. Tom Matthews, J. Ne vilie, Fitzjames, Meagreson, G. Weston, and Master Percy Roselle ; Misses Lizzie 'A ilmore, Rose Leclercq, E. Weston, Coventry, and Cicely Tiirott. The Harlequinade will include the services of those popular Pantomimists (forming a double company), Harry Boleno and Mr. C. Laud, Clowns ; Mr. W. A. Barnes and Mr. J. Morris, Pantaloons ; Mr. Cormack and Mr. S. Saville, Harlequins; Madame Boleno and Misses Gunniss, Columbines. The masks, devices, and dresses, from designs by the humorously re nowned Dykwynkyn. The music selected and arranged by Mr. J. Barn erd. The dances and action of the Ballet will be arranged by Mr. Cormack. Comic scenes, tricks, &c., invented by Messrs. H. Boleno and Cormack. Morning Performance of the Pantomime every Wednesday, at 2 o'clock. Box Office open daily from 10 till 5 o'clock. The massive and beautiful decorations of the amphitheatre, proscenium, and ceiling, designed and completed under the direction of Marsh Nelson, Esq., in that sorgeous style of ornamentation known as characteristic of the Louis Quatorze period, and which elicited so much praise from the press and the public last year, having been thoroughly cleansed, make the aspect of the house before the curtain (which, when lighted up, is admitted to be the most beautiful in Euro,,e), an object of admiration which in itself is worth a visit. On S TURDAY NEXT, January 9, Mr. PHELPS will appear in a New Serio-Comic Drama, entitled NIGHT AND 310 RN, which will be played in conjunction with the Panto mime during the holidays. AOYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter. BEL DE lIONIO (a Triumphant Success) will be repeated Every Evening during the Week. THIS EVENING, the performance will commence with a New and Original Farce, entitled THE LOST CHILD: less-s. H. Widdicombe, Shore, Garden, F. Charles Collett, Moreland; Misses Percy, Pauline LeAercq, Wood, Mrs. Lee, and Miss E. Lavenu. After which, at Eight o'clock, BEL DEMONIO, a Love story, in Twelve Tableaux, taken from Stendhal's "Italian Chronicle.," by Mr. John Brougn am. Principal charac ter by Mr. Fechter, supported by Messrs. Jordan, Charles, Broughqm, Emery, Raymond, Moreland, Smith, Clifford, Collett, Sims ; Miss Kate Terry, E. Lavenu, Lee, and Jams Elsworthy. The Public are entreated to take notice that No Charge is made to the occupants of Boxes, Box-places, or Stalls, either for play bills or for the safe keeping - of hat and cloaks, and that the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to receive any gratuities whatever. Box-office open daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL HAY MARKET.— Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone. THIS EVENING, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN: Messrs. FOthern, Buckstone, Chippendale, Braid, Gordon, Rogers, Clark, Cullentord, &c ; Mesdames Angel, Snowden, Terry, Lindley, Hill, &c After which, KING ARTHUR ; or The Days and Knights of the Round Table. Messrs. Chippendale, Compton, Braid, Clark, Rogers, Tilbury, &c. ; Mesdames L. Keeley, Brough, Wright, Terry, Lindley, Rogers, &c. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.— Sole Lesee and Manager, Mr, Geo. Vining. Open for the Season. THIS EVENING, THE HONEYMOON. After which, HARLEQUIA LITTLE TOM TUCKER.; or The Fine Lady of Banbury Cross, and the old Woman who Lived in a Shoe and Had so Many Children she didn't know what to do. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. under the Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER. GREAT SUrCES S. EVERY NvENING, the HEN AND CHICKENS : Mrs. Stirling in h.ar original character. Atter which, a Comical Conglomemtive Christmas Absur dity, entitled 1863 ; or. THE SENSATIONS OF '('HE PAST SEASON, wita a shameful Revelation of Lad, Somebody's Secret. Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Paul Bedford, Miss Cottrell, bliss Fanny Joseph, (to. With the BIRTHPLACE OF PODGERS : Mr. J. L. Toole The celebrated Mr. and Mrs. CHARLES MATHEWS Monday, January 11. EW THE ATRE-ROYAL, AD ELPHI.— sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. .1„11 THIS EVENING, THE SPITALFIELDS WEAVER: Air. J. L. Mote. to E:ight, the New Drama of LEAH: Miss Bate man, supportE d by Messrs. Arthur Stirling, R. Phillips, Bil ington, Stunt' t, Stephenson, Eburne; Miss H. Simms, and Mrs. Billing - to n. To conclude with LADY BELLE BELLE; or, Fortunio and his Seven .31agi3 Men. Messrs. J. Clarke, it. Phillips, Stephenson ; Miss Woolgar, Miss K. Kelly, Miss ...Patti JoseAs, Misa L. Laidlaw, Miss Seaman. Commence at 7. LEA H.-EVERY NIGHT. MISS BATEMAN.-LEAH.-THIS EVENING, the 81st appearance of the great Tragic Actress, Miss BA PE MAN, !,n the character of L KATI. In consequence of the unbounded success with which Miss Bateman's imperso nation of the principal character in the new Five Act Drama of L FAH has been attended. Mr Virebstee begs to announce that it will be performed EVERY EVENING until further notice. J OYA.L STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, ORANGE BLOSSOMS : Miss K. Carson. After which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, ORPHEUS AND EU'a - Y DICE : Messrs. Honey, Wood, James Fenton, Mesdames. Swanborough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, &e. To conclude with TURN HIM our. Commence at 7. TIRE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," 1_ Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, an be had Every Evening of G. R. GLItNIE, NEws AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Ryde-park. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DA.r.—Morning, Bh. 44m.—Afternoon, 9a. 22m. To-moßßaw.-Morning, 9h 58a1.—Afternoon,r;10h. 36m. The Weather—Sun Office, Jan, 4, 1864, THERMOMETER. Thia day at Two o'clock 3O Barometer-30.00. Wind—East ; fresh, and very fine. 1 - 4 44 4' f Og' . " 4 4NOPPA rib' ' ' Snit **LA. LONDON, SATURDAY, JAN. 4, 1864. Parliament is already coming within our ken, is now almost visibly looming up before us at the end of the very brief perspective of a few weeks in this next month of February. There is a toler ably clear u nderstanding, too, on all sides that the coming session is not to be allowed to follow the dull pattern of its three or four do-nothing predeces sors. The Parliament itself moreevar is coming with in easy distance of the date of its own dissolution. Meaning by that, its dissolution simply in the natural course of things as a septennial Parlia ment. Nominally only our Parliaments are Eep. tennial. Ever since they became septennial they have as a rule become more shert-lived even thin seven years. They have been dissolved, instead of tranquilly lapsing into non-existence. The Seven Years of Perliament, like the Seven Ages of Man, are seldom enough to be trav - 3rssd, throughout, to the very end. And when a Parliament as charac • terless, as sluggish, as dawdling, almost one might say, as utterly indifferent as the one last summoned into existence, is in existence, the sooner a quietn, comes to be administered to it, the people out of doors get to think at last, the better. Remembering how little there is, that can be set down as among the achie7ements of the Parliament now in a few weeks more to he summoned back again ,to Westminster for the despatch of urgent public business—one really, without any particle of affectation, looks forward with a sense of relief, with a sense nearly of exultation, to the prospect of its dissolution. It has done, actually done little or nothing, since it was first called together in the summer of 1859, when Mr. EVELYN DENISON was elec ed Speaker. More than that, it has hardly attempted to do anything. It has scarcely made any pretense of affecting to do anything. It un happily had the excuse afforded to it for idling away a whole year in consequence of the sudden and terribly premature death of the beloved Consort of the SOVEREIGN. The nice balance of parties again—keeping things almost in a state of absolute equilibrium—has served since then to perpetu• ate, if not actually to justify, the do-nothing policy of a Cabinet without any great ruling principle whatever, beyond the one cherished principle of all Whig Cabinets—to hold office as long as possible ! In the maintenance of this very curious do-nothing policy, a policy so very curi ous on the part of a Ministry notoriously made up of Reformers—a ministry that actually ousted its predecessors from office on the plea of their impeding the rapid acquisition of large and comprehensive Reforms—in the steady and continuous mainten ance of this do-nothing policy, the present Adminis tration has been sustained by two things, each of which two things has certainly been all the while sufficiently within every one's comprehension. First of the two—by the strong predilection for Conservatism all his life in the heart of hearts of Lord PALMERSTON. Second of the two—by the ready connivance, aid, assistance, and co-operation of the powerful Conservative Opposition. Upon Lord PALMERSTON'S popularity the present Cabi net has all along rested entirely as its only foun dation. And the Premier, who is one of the last, as he is also in another sense one of the first, of the Canningites, if he has ever before in his life cherished Conservative predilections, has done, is doing so, now that he is approaching the ripe age of an octogenarian. Old age is not fond of innovation—is certainly not fond of inaugurating innovations. Lord PAL MERSTON never, even in his youth, having been solicitous about the prosecution of bold and sweeping reforms, has ling since got to be wholly and avowedly indifferent to them. And in sweeping altogether out of view all idea or design of Reforms, of a large or small kind, as Lord PALMERSTON, if any man living has done, has most unquestionably done, has done eagerly and done with a wilt—he has been steadily and strenuously aided in so doing by the eager co operation of her MAJESTY'S Opposition, Why the latter have thus readily consented to assist the Ministry in their do-nothing policy—needs hardly, in truth, to be specified! For one thing, while so doing, they, the Opposition, have been all this time enabling their antagonists, in the most signal and effectual manner, to stultify themselves. They (the Opposition) have so acted that the result has been the shelving of all reform by the very Ministry which was called to power in order to secure the triumph of reform principles! More sweeping reforms than those they themselves (i.e., the Conservatives) were prepared to carry out in 18e39, had they been allowed to do so by the Dag-in-the-Manger Re solution of Lord RUSSELL, then still Lord JOHN RUSSELL—more sweeping reforms than those sketched out in Mr. DISRAELI'S rejected measure, neither he nor his colleagues were prepared to assist in carrying through Parliament. The Oppo sition, therefore, have been perfectly consistent in furthering Lord PALMERSTON'S endeavour, the noble veteran's very successful endeavour, as it has turned oat to be, to bring about the shelving of Reform altogether. So effectually has it long since been shelved in consequence of all this, that the reputed Great Reformer among Great Reformers in the House cf Commons has quitted that arena for the Lords—has long since accepted hie coronet as an earl, and has been further rewarded—for his " Resolutions," of course —by tieing made a Knight of the Garter. Hence his memorable expression of satiety when recommending the nation to " Rest and be Thank• ful." A Parliament in which all this has come to pass, we have no sentiment in regard to, unless a sense of absolute indifference can be called a senti ment. We look with apathy to the prospect of its dissolution. Before the date of its dissolution comes, however, there will, in the natural course of things, come a party struggle ! Probably the party struggle will arise this next session : and this —because of the blundering of Ministers, particu larly in their Foreign Policy and because of the simultaneous aggregation of strength numerically to the Opposition. They who attempt to give advice, or to offer sug gestions to the King of PRUSSIA, have but a sorry task, and do not meet with a very gracious recep tion. In the present instance his MAJESTY'S answer to the address is a most ungenial one, and be takes very good care to let the refractory and presumptous deputies know how greatly they have erred in their attempts to teach him his duty, and to hint to him how he should manage affairs. Thus we read in the Reply, that the King " desires to assume" that no intimation given to him could pos sibly be intended to trench on his exclusive right to decide and dictate the course necessary to be taken with respect to foreign politics. According to this idea it will be very difficult to determine what remains for the representative Assembly to do, if all action is denied to them, and they are not to be allowed to come forward in any decisive manner, and sway the destinies of the country at an important juncture. This is a new doctrine to be promulgated in a Constitutional country, and seems to extinguish the last faint hopes that may be entertained of his conversion to a wiser and a better course. Now when we hear of this enuncia tion by the King that the decision arrived at re garding these affairs can only be settled by himselt alone—if this be true, some reflective persons might ask, what is the use of having a Chamber of Depu ties at all. If their mission is but to follow the old advice of seeing, and hearing, hut saying nothing, it would be quite as well if they did not undertake the task at all. It is at all events so far satisfactory that King WILLIAM does not agree to the tenour of the advice accorded to him, although his mode of declining the suggestion is quite characteristic of the arbitrary style which has gained for his rule so much animadversion, and called down such bitter reproach. It is one step gained in the unequal struggle now taking place, that the treaties of 1862 are not to be given up recklessly, or without due consideration, and what- ever arriere pensee the King may entertain, whatever may lurk in the background, we can but rejoice eo far at his resolve to maintain intact and inviolate the engagements entered into between the Powers of Europe. The concluding passages of the reply are very carefully worded, and prove the KING to be a skilful diplomatist and an acute watcher of events. The very haste and precipita- tion with which the Deputies have acted are turned to account against them ; and the zeal for aggran disement abroad, and the mistaken notions of up holding the Federal rights at home, which have lately so falsely actuated them, are now shown up in their true coloars. When any sect or party become hesitating in their course, it follows as a rilE SUN, LO‘ DON. MONDAY EVI'NING, JANUARY 4 1861. matter of necessity that their opponents take advan tage of it. The KING very aptly remarks that, if the Deputies really desire what they ask for, they must in conscience agree to his proposals and give a willing ear to his demands. Thus he adroitly introduces the subject of the " means" and " con ditions," which have hitherto been vexed questions between the Crown and the Deputies. He has the best of the argument, when he says that he cannot understand how the House which so " vehemently urges" him to action can reuse him its support when he asks for the requisite powers to commence that action. The Deputies have thrown away a grand chance, and lost a glorious opportunity of vindicating the rights of the Constitution and serving the best interests of their country. The mania for Federal rights seems to have obscured all other ideas, and to have obliterated those claims which were so much more important and impera tive. This affair of Schleswig-Holstein, which some time ago was the opprobrium of politics, and which some mistaken well-wishers deemed to have been settled once and for ever, seems destined to confuse and complicate to the utmost the nations of Europe, already sufficiently dis tracted by the uncertain state of events. Like all bad managers and pursuers of a shuffling line of policy, Earl RUSSELL is now in a very un comfortable position. He beholds fresh difficulties in every turn of events, and new dilemmas seem winged towards him with the advent of every addi tional telegram. His perplexities have now com pelled him to summon a Cabinet Council, doubtless for the express purpose of considering this remark able and intricate problem. Had the noble lord taken a right view of this affair at first, how diffe rent would now be the result. We should be main taining a position worthy of the dignity and con sonant with the influence that a great country ought to exercise and enjoy. Instead of that, there is nothing but charge and countercharge, orders and decrees, succeeding each other in swift succes sion, and doubtless one counteracting any good that the other might effect. It is the more to be regret ted that the question has been thus maltreated, when it is borne in mind that the country which is the most injured and insulted is the one that is closely connected with us at present, and which surely calls for same attention and merits some con sideration at our hands. It would hardly have been credited some time back had any one skilled in public questions, and well versed in the general events of the day, foretold the humiliating course we were to pursue with a nation to whom we are indebted for our future Queen. It is high time that the session should begin, and this affair taken up in the right ipirit and carried on with earnestness and energy. When the Duke of AUGUSTENBURG takes to issuing proclamations, it is eminently requisite that some State sufficiently potent should check these irregular proceedings, and put a stop to this inconsistent and unprecedented course. The ar rangements made throughout this affair by the German League are in every respect unworthy of a great people, who surely could have afforded to be more magnanimous, and to have exhibited more honourable spirit throuhgout. The vexatious arrangement of this question may pass away from the general recollection like a nine days' wonder, but with those who are more discern ing heavy blame will attest itself to those who had the power, but forbore to exercise it, whose influence would have turned the scales in favour of a small State borne down by oppression, but who declared for neither side until too late for the asseveration to benefit either. It is always most desirable for the ministers of a great country to be prompt and bold and outspoken in their utterances; there are many to take advantage or their weakness, and turn the uncertain wave of events to account fur their own purposes. If it ware only as having furnished a pretext for the decadence of the hopes of Prussia this affair of Schleswig-Holstein is to be deeply lamented, since a chance thrown away may be very rarelyagain presented to those who have neglected it. Among the many charitable institutions of the metropolis is one which, from a very humble and limited commencement, has developed into a large establishment, whose wide ramifications confer sub stantial and lasting benefits among the most help less and needy of our destitute classes. We allude to the Field-lane Night Refuges, of which some very interesting statistics have lately been pub lished. This institution is best known by this name, although its objects extend far beyond the one purpose of giving a night's shelter to the house less wanderer. Its blanches include a male and female refuge for the utterly destitute, day and in fant schools, night schools, industrial classes for boys and girls, a ragged church, a Sunday school, and a penny bank. The number of recipients of these varied benefits is something surprising even in London, while the amount of practical good that has been done by reclaiming the vicious and idle, by training the young, and helping the helpless is a substantial benefit to the country_ It is little more than twenty years since the first small begin ning of this vast work was made by an humble city missionary. The scene of his labours was in the vicinity of Field-lane, where the courts and alleys abounded with vice and distress. He saw the hungry lacking food, the naked shivering in the blast, the weary finding no rest for the soles of their feet in this our wilderness of streets and lanes. He saw idleness grow into vice, and vice into crime, for lack of the timely and kindly hand to turn them to the better way. He saw the young chil dren left untaught, uncared for, with no friend to teach how to live or how to die ; with no one to put them in the way of earning an honest crust, but hundreds ready to teach them how to break the laws of GOD and man. He saw youth left without any counterbalance to the thousand temptations that beset it; he saw friendless girls out of place lacking a decent refuge, he saw sickness and misfortune reducing their vic tims to the level of the worthless and depraved, with little chance of making a fresh start. All this, and much more, did he see. We might almost be tempted to question, looking at the place as he saw it then, what good could one man do, and that man with out wea;th, power, or influence ? The early efforts of the City Missionary were, soon after the first starting, assisted by some friends in the neighbour. hood, but their efforts were obstructed in every way possible by the disorderly people of the district. Some ten years after the first beginning, the male refuge for the houseless poor was opened, and since that time, in 1851, 90,000 men and boys have been supplied with 300 night's lodgings, and 600,000 loaves of bread; 5,000 of these have been provided with the means of gaining their own livelihood. These figures alone prove the urgent need that ex isted of such an establishment, and represent an amount of want and suffering that if left untended would have been terrible to think of. It is stated that a large pro portion of these persons do not be long to the worst classes, but have been reduced to extremity by loss of health or work, and ina bility to find employment. There is little to attract those that are not in utter need. A loaf of bread and water night and morning, coffee in winter, and a little soup on Sundays, together with the rough accommodation for the night, are not likely to tempt the idler, if he can find food and shelter elsewhere. Boys are sent to the refuges to learn a trade and gain a character, unless they already have one, when situations are found for them. The female's department has not been near so long open, but ten thousand persons have already received its benefits. Nearly a third of this number have been put in places or sent to their friends. Those who have characters are kept in the refuge until they are tested, and then stationed in the servants' room attached to the establishment for engagement. The dormitories are always full, and many more of these poor creatures apply for admission than can be accommodated. The schools provide for children of all ages—from the infant school, where those under seve❑ years can be kept in careful hands to be taught to read, sing, and sew, and provided with food and warmth. The average attendance is 195 for the morning, and 269 for the afternoon ; and it is an interesting evidence of the thrifty habits early inculcated that the infants have, within the past 12 months, paid £24 for the clothes given to them in regular payments of id. and 1-,d. In the day schools the average attendance is 320, having educated, since its opening in 1848, more than 8,000 children, 3,000 o f whom have been helped on in life by learning trades, procuring situations, &c. An industrial sewing class teaches the girls one of the most necessary departments of woman's knowledge. It would be well if it were possible to add a cooking class where they might learn to make cheap and wholesome soup, to boil vegetables, &e., thereby saving the waste which too often is found in a poor n.an's kitchen. Night schools for men and boys carry on another part of the work at which the attendance is satisfactory. At the boys' industrial classes boys are taught tailor ing and shoemaking, A girl's night school for girls unable to come in the day is attended by ser vants, girls in warehouses, &c. During three years 600 have been scholars, while the girl's in dustrial class for elders, the mother's class for teaching them useful house knowledge, and the Ladies' Clothing Society, all deal with cases of need that are numbered by hundreds. Nor is the work held to be done when the inmate or the scholar has been provided with out-door employ ment. Every endeavour is made to keep up a friendly connection by the offer of priz2s for good service, &c., in order to encourage the lads to perse vere in steady and j a dustrious habits. So widespread have been the benefits of this institution, so great and testing the good it confers on classes awkward to reach and difficult to deal with, that we hear with regret of any change being necessary. O wing to the requisitions of the Metropolitan Railway, how ever, the present establishment must be shortly abandoned, and the managers find considerable diffi culty i❑ procuring another site owing to many persons objecting to letting their lands for such purposes as the Refuge. We cannot suppose that they will not succeed in finding a resting place, but it will be a matter of regret if they are compelled to remove to a distance, which will deprive their esta blishment of a great part of its utility. If it is located in some remote suburb the homeless wanderer may, it is true, turn his steps thither; the labours among the resident poor, the schools and classes will be sadly crippled. We must hope before their time has expired some similar spot will be found, in which the great and good works springing from the humble efforts of the city missionary may be carried forward with unabated zeal and success. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. [REUTER'S TELEGRAM.] THE POLISH INSURRECTION. KOWNO, DEC. 29. Yesterday was a day of deep mourning for the patriotic people of Poland and Lithuania. A hero of the insurrection, whose name will be mentioned with esteem and admiration by all future genera tions of his countrymen, the valiant and noble Abbe iVlackiewiez, who had been captured by an unfor tunate chance some days ago by the Muscovites, has been hanged by order of the cruel Mouravieff, in Kowno, on the 28th inst., at 11 o'clock. The heroism of this well-known Polish leader, who has held the campaign from the b?ginning of the insur rection, the generous manner in which he treated the Russians who fell into his power during the war, the noble words he uttered when he was brought before the younger Mouravieff in Kowno—" I have fought for the freedom and independence of my country ; this is all I have to confess ; now, general, do your duty as servant of the Czar," all these had surely made an impression on every other civilised enemy, and had saved the life of the captured here from a cruel revenge. Alas! the Mouravieffs and their fellows know nothing of such noble feelings, and the gallows received a fresh martyr. Abbe Mackiewicz died as he had lived; his last words were a prayer for Poland. The Rassian officers celebrated this day, as usual, by a solemn ball. Oa the 19th inst., in the town of Szczeczew, in the district of Pruszany, were hanged, by order of Mouravieff, Anthony Alkowski, the priest John Hruszczyk, and the Prussian subject Augustus Sa lomon, for having taken part in the Polish insur rection. WARSAW, DEC. 29. Intelligence spread through the city yesterday of an unsuccessful attack upon the Russian colonel of gendarmes, Rospopow, and that in his private resi dence, which is strictly guarded. The perpetrators are said to have been taken. The colonel was un injured, but Major von Rothkvich died to-day of wounds received in the affair. A more daring at tempt than all these is the poniarding of a spy, Josef Guzik, in the citadel itse'f, to which only known military men are admitted. Upon the occasion of the approaching holiday, General Berg has ordered Bishop Rzewuski to issue a pastoral letter to the people advocating peace, but the Bishop declined. The refusal is not believed to result from any particular feeling of patriotism, but rather from fear of the consequences. Whatever the motive, Rzewmki will probably be sent to Siberia. Very compromising papers with respect to the insurrection are said to have been discovered at the residences of the officials of the Warsaw and Vienna Railway, lately arrested. The temporary director, Mirecki, has already received his dismissal, and it is reported that the entire management of the rail way will pass into the hands of the Russian Go vernment. The transportation convoys continue. Many ladies have also recently been sent into the interior of Russia, there to be detained. CHINA. SUEZ, DEC. 31. Prince Kung having refused to ratify the agree ment made by Mr. Lay with Capt. Osborn, Capt. Osborn proceeded to disband his force. The European Ministers protested against Prince Kung having the ships on his own terms, and Prince Kur.g then requested Mr. Bruce to sell the ships for him. Mr. Bruce hating requested Capt. Osborn to undertake their disposal, a part of the squadron were to sail for England, and Captain Osborn, with the Keangsoo, Quantung, and Amoy had sailed for Bombay. Captain Osborn may be shortly expected in England. FRANCE. BOURSE, Jas. 2.—The market has been firm, bat still only a limited amount of business doing Threes, for the Account, are now at 66fr. 55c. Mobiler shows a slight improvement, being at 1,050 fr. Railway Market quiet, but former prices well maintained. Prises again receded towards the close, and left off as follows : 41 per Cents. . . 91 90 fro. end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 66 35 Italian Loan 7l 60 Do. end month 7l 45 New ditto Do. end month — Credit M0bi1ier...,1035 On. end month Bank Shares 3290 Credit koncier Roman Russian Austrian Spanish Threes 521 Rome Debt Deferred SAIL Orleans Northern 'Airs. Cash. Account.. 977 50 .. 971 25 970 .. 972 50 New ditto — • • Lyons and Mediterranean 930 .. 930 New. ditto . 888 75 .. S iuthern .. 6BO .. 682 50 Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard North of Spain Saragossa.. Ditto to Barcelona PRISON DISCIPLINE. The annual report of Mr. Herbert Voules, inspec tor of prisons in the northern district of Great Britain, has been issued. It brings to the notice of the Government the difference between England and Scotland in regard to the punishment of prison offences. In England there are definite rules, which limit the authority of the visiting justices and the governor ; in Scotland there may be said to be none, except that the use of handcuffs and fetters is limited as in England. The rules framed by the late General Board of Directors of Scotch prisons content them selves with stating generally that punishment for misconduct in prison " must not be more severe than is considered necessary to produce the desired effect." Flogging is, indeed, prohibited in England; it may be ordered by.the visiting jus tices in the case of prisoners convicted of felony or sentenced to hard labour, and the inspector is con vinced that the power is much required for the main tenance of discipline in Scotch prisons., The account given of severalof the Scotch prisons is unsatisfactory. Ventilation is often defective, and the atmosphere of the cells is sometimes found very offensive. The prison stuff is in many cases deficient in strength, and sometimes in other particulars. In Dam barton prison the matron set a female prisoner to work by herself in the kitchen with the key of the inner door of the prison lying on the table, the outer door being left open for the admission of workmen ; the prisoner, of course, was soon outside the gaol. The report in cludes the northern and north-midland parts of Eng land, as well as Scotland. It is stated that much mischief is still allowed to be caused by intercourse of the prisoners with one another, the hardened with the fresh; and the helpless condition of discharged prisoners still almost drives them to their old Ileums and associates. In Newcastle Gaol there was a young man of 23 who had been convicted 36 times, and a woman of 35 who had been in that same pri son 50 times Faefore. They seem to belong to the class of whom the Ordinary of Newgate said before the Commission on Transportation that mercy to such persons is nonsense. A rather curious state ment is made respecting Carlisle County Gaol, that the visiting justices have authorised the governor to give employment (other than hard labour) to all prisoners committed from the county court, and that may account for the small number of debtors in this gaol. THE SULTAN AT A THEATRE, The Sultan attended a representation at the Italian Theatre, Constantinople, a few evenings ago, an act quite out of usual custom. The Levant Herald gives the following account of the visit :—" The usual hour for the performance is 8 o'clock; but the Sultan keeps early hours—be wanted to return in fair time to the palace; and he, moreover, had brought his little son and nephew, and did not de sire to expose the children too late to the chill and frosty air of a winter's night. This was the second time that Abdul-Aziz—that any Turkish Sultan, we believe—had been to a Frank theatre. The coup (tail was very striking, and presented an attractive and glittering scene. It did occur to us, perhaps, that even in the boxes the male element was rather too conspi cuous to suit artistic effect ; of course, below at d above, amongst the celestials, they were as densely packed shunian patience and the theory of matter would permit; but there was quite enough of youth and beauty, of bright eyes and comely faces, of' sparkling jewellery, and rich toilets, to combine with the accessories of light and music to produce a brilliant tout ensemble. The Sultan was, of course, the observed of all observers; opera glasses were incessantly levelled from all quarters of the house at the central box where, alone, with a rather grave air, though dashed now and then with curiosity, and a sort of pleased surprise, wearing his plain fez, and the lower part of his form wrapped in the fold of his cloak, sat the Ruler of Turkey. It ever a Iran was libelled by his photograph it is Sultan Abdul-Aziz. He has none of that morose and semi-scowling ap pearance which ho is made to wear in his own capital at all places of public entertainment, and almost at every street corner. He has a fine manly face, intelligent, with clear and open eyes, keen and rather scrutinising, but his countenance is shaded nearly always with an air of pensiveness amount ing almost to sadness, Whi c h is so often present Turkish phys looks a io gnorne s . 1 1 the darker in Hisblack d rather n contrast with reloseily cut beardth his rapid ly-wh i ten i ng h a i r , an rat although he is only 34 years old. Now and then his face lit up with an i mation at some fi ne passage of Verdi in the Trovatore,' and once or twice a smile played about his features at the humorous absurdities of the opera buffs of Cris pino' which followed it. The young princes, who were in the next box, and seemed delighted at the scene, looked very attractive in their coquettish little uniforms. Bewilderingly imposing, too, looked the Arab body guard in their picturesque costutnts. The Sultan waited until the conclusion, and then, amidst Vivas,' and through illumined streets, dashed away back to Dulma - Baghtche. The artistes exerted themselves admirably, and on leaving the Sultan presented the director and his associates with 650 TIM WHALING FLEET.—Next year this port I will gave a fleet of eight whale-fishing vessels, all of which will be propelled by steam. The Victor, which, as we have already noticed, was purchased at Peterhead by the Tay Whale Fishing Company, to take the place of the fil leted Jumna, and the Emma, which belongs to the Messrs. Gilroy, are now in the graving dock. These vessels, which were previously sailing ships, are being completely over hauled, both internally and externally ; and, besides, being fitted up with screws, they will be otherwise considerably improved. The engines of both vessels are to be supplied by the Messrs. Gourley, and will be of 40 and 50 horse power respectively. These steamers, with the one now building by Messrs. Alexander Stephen and Son, for the M essrs, Gilroy—which is to be fitted up with an engine of 70 horse power and an auxiliary screw, constructed on the most im• proved principle—will form a great acquisition to our already existing fleet of steam whaling ships. The other five steamers are also to be overhauled before they leave. There will thus be for the next season's fishing a fleet of eight screw steamers—the best Dundee has ever had—all of which will' be sufficiently equipped for their hazardous voyago. Nearly 500 seamen will be required to man the fleet. It is expected that all the vessels will leave about the end of February or the beginning of March. Some of them will go to the seal fishing, while the others will proceed to Davis' Straits direct.—Duntice Courtcr. THE TIN TRADE.—It is understood that prelimi naries have been arranged for a meeting of agents of the principal Cornish tin mines for the purpose of considering the best course to pursue in order to obtain a better price for tin. The existence of differences between certain smelters is assigned as the chief reason for the recent depreciation in the value of this metal. The present standard is as follows : —Refined, 105 s to 107 s ; common, 103 a to 104 e?. A further reduction is considered probable. ;#. LITERATURE. Can You Forgive Her? By Anthony Trollope. With Illustrations by H. K. Browne. No. I. Chapman and Hall. Hardly !—if this is to be a specimen of her his tory, of her sayings and doings. Mr. Anthony Trollope works too hard—writes too industriously —drives his pen with, for his reputation, what we fear may become (it has not become so yet) a fatal facility. As the inaugurative instalment of a new serial story we must confess at once that we don't like this one. Our hope is that it may be found to improve upon further acquaintance. It gives evidence here and there of having been very hastily sent to press Otherwise, how can we possibly account for a skilled writer like Mr. Trollope stumbling gramma tically twice in a single page—as, for example, in this very No. 1., p. 27, where he says, " They were men either of more prudence or of less audacity than him (sic)," &c. And again, a little lower down " so they had quarrelled and had never spoken or seen (sic) each other since." Tsa I—like a pianist playing a discord, or a soprano singing flat, like biting flannel, or scraping a perpendicular pencil across a slate I None of the characters, again, are to our liking—neither of the heroines, Alice or Kate—neither of the heroes, John Grey or George Vavasor. The latter's scar on the face is too much like Miss Dartle's in " David Copperfield." Then, again, we are almo,t sorry to find Hablot Browne (who is not what he was an illustrator) adopted as Anthony Trollope's illustrator I The two etchings in number one of " Can You Forgive Her" might almost do as embellishments to some ephemeral book of the fashions—walking dresses in one, ball dresses in the other, with, in the former, a wonderful specimen of the grotesque spoonbill bonnet. We shall hope for better things, however, iu future numbers, both from Phiz's pencil and from the flying pen of Anthony Trullope. The Brown Book. 1861. Saunders, 0 tley, and Co. Another ready reference book. Not a blue book. Not the Red Book. Not a litre jaune. Not party coloured. But—a sensible, matter-ot-fact, directly to-the-purpose, plain, blunt, honest, sober Brown Book. A book to be published half-yearly—so that it will always convey the very latest information. A book that answers, among other frequently recurring questions, " Whica is the Nearest Post MCC " How shall I find a Cewmissionaire ?" Whereabout is the nearest Tele graph Office ?'' A book so apropos that it ought to be placed so very handily for reference when required that the possessor should come at last to say of it as Charles 11. said of Rochester,—" Never in the way, and never out of the way I" We don't know to whom it will prove the most acceptable—to the old Londoner, or to the young man from the country—to the true born Cockney, or to the unmis takeable Foreigner. To every one who consults it, it will for a dead certainty prove most welcome, and all the more welcome because, we believe, perfectly reliable. The Gallery of Geography. Part 111. W. and R. Cnambers. Good headway is beginning to be made in this beautifully got up and carefully compiled Gallery of Geography—good headway, both pictorially and descriptively. " Naples, from Monte Martino," is the subject of the engraved frontispiece. Among the subjects treated of in the letterpress, by the rev. author, Mr. Milner, we find reference made here in this very number, most opportunely made, as it happens, to the recent discoveries both in Central Africa and in Central Australia. The elaborate introduction to the work, it should be said, moreover, has in this number been brought to a conclusion. And Part I. of the work itself thereupon energetically opens up with a General View of Europe. Afterwards, as portions of the first section of this third part of "The Gallery of Geography," we have abun dant particulars of " The British Isles and European Depen dencies." Throughout the text, are still scattered, in great abundance, wood engravings, admirably well done and ex cellently well selected. Anson's Dramatic Almanack, for 1864. The eighth yearly issue of this beautiful little bijou of an almanack demands from us some brief but earnest recognition of its merits as a perfect repertory of histrionic information. It is still care fully compiled and revised by its originator, Mr. J. W. Anson, one who has been for a long while past so well and honourably known in the Dramatic Profession in the Metropolis, and this too in more than one responsible capacity —as Secre tary of the Royal Dramatic College ; as Secretary of the Dramatic, Equestrian, and Musical Sick Fund ; and, best of all, perhaps (certainly to the general public) as the Treasurer of the Theatre Royal Adelphi. The proceeds of the very compact and portable little almanack here referred to, as annually published under the supervision of Mr. Anson, are, year alter year, handed over by him to the Sick Fund, of which, as above mentioned, he is the secretary. The furtherance of the interests of the Dramatic Almanack, therefore, is in itself distinctly an act of benevolence. But even looking at Mr. Anson's charming little almanack apart from this very attractive consideration, it is in itself so singularly interesting and valuable a com pilation illustrative of the artistic professions to which it relates that it readily enough secures for itself the wide and widening circulation which we believe it en toys. That truly and it is really exceptional as an almanack, may be at once intimated by our mentioning, as among the, number of ite contents, an extranadinary re cord of the Great Events of the Drama for 2,300 years 1 A list of the first appearances of celebrated artists i And, together with these details, a mass of useful information in reference to the managers and theatres, not only of London, but besides those in the Provinces, in America, and far away at the other side of the globe, even in Australia. ONCE A WEEK.—The forty fourth monthly part of this cheap popular illustrated weekly mis cellany is mainly remarkable for two serial stories —Harriet Martineau's Son Christopher, and Adol phus Trollope's Beppo the Conscript, the former of the two abburdly illustrated by Mr. Millais, that new and rarely-gifted academician, who is apparently bent upon industriously frittering away his powers as a book illus trator. An extraordinary variety of papers, in prose and verse, complete in this forty-fourth part, at once the 234th weekly number and the sixth volume of "Once a Week," the aim of which periodical still appears to be the serial publication of the very lightest contributions to the current light literature of the age. Literary Intelligence. A CHEAP GALIGNANI.—A new paper is about to be started in Berlin in English, to supply those who cannot pay ten sous per day for Galignani's Messenger, with use ful information on Paris life, for four sous. THE POET TUPPER I—ln consequence of a special re quest, Mr. Martin F. Tupper had the honour of a private interview with their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales at Frogmore on Sunday last, as we are informed by his publishers. MRS. LIRRIPER'S LODGINGS.—Besides Mr. Dickens' share, the other papers are contributed by Mr. G. A. Sala, Mr. Wilkie Collins, and Mr. Andrew Halliday. The story of "Doctor Goliath," by the last named writer, is a sketch from life. The original is well known in lite rary society, and the portrait has been generally recog nised. THE PRUSSIAN PRESS takes a melancholy review of its relations with the Government during the past year. The Folks Zeitung has been eleven times proceeded against by the police—the National Zeitung, seven times; the Iribuns and the Borsen Zeitung, six times ; the Abend Zeitung, five times; the Berlin Allegerneine Zeitung, four times; the Publicist, three times; the Vossische Zeitung and the Preussische Yolksbladtt, twice; the Spenerische Zeitung and the German Punch (Kladderadatsche), once. The total amount of the fines was not very heavy, about £300; but the editors were in many of these cases imprisoned. The Gartenlaube was suppressed for giving an imaginary ac count of the loss of the Prussian brig Amazon, which really was lost, but not in the way stated—the Prussian Govern ment considering the narrative as derogatory to the admi nistration of Prussian naval affairs I Almost all these penalties have been inflicted for liberties which in England would be considered milk-and-water criticisms—half -way between silence and blame. Such is the liberty which Ger mans are so anxious to press on Schleswig-Holstein I BOOKS RECEIVED. Henry Taylor's Poems. Philip Van Arteveldt, &c. 3 Vols, Chapman and Hall, Th© Belle of the Ball. A Novel. By Wm. Pickersgill 2 Vols. T. C. Newby. Uncle Crotty's Relations. By Herbert Glyn. 2 Vols. Smith, Elder, and Co. Whist Studies, By A. C. and B. D. Smith, Elder and Co. Illustrated Horse Management. 400 Engravings. By 11 , -nry Mayhew, M.R.C.V.S. Wm. H. Allen and Co. The Brown Book, 1864. Saunders, Otley, and Co. The Metropolitan Board of Works has agreed to contract a loan of £50,000, in order to construct the new Finsbury-park, which will be farmed of about 120 acres of land. " PICKLES AND SAUCES."—Some idea of the export trade in " pickles and sauces" may be formed from the fact that the declared value of such articles exported in the eleven months ended November last was £354,902, PRINCESS'S.--Mr. Westland Marston's new play "Donna Maria" was not produced at this house on Satur day night in coosequence of the sudden indisposition of Mrs, Hermann Vezin (late• Mrs. Charles Young), who is to perform the principal character, THE GREEK GOVERNMENT intends to reduce 44, army, now 10,000 strong, to 5,000 men, ,_‘ourt eirtnbr. HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, JAN. 2. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales took leave of her Miljesty to-day, and.left Osborne for Frogmore House. The Prince and Princess crossed over in the Royal yacht Fairy to Gosport, attended by the Countess of Macclefi?ld, Lieut.-General Knollye• and Lieut.-Colonel Keppel. JAN. 3. The Queen, Prince Alfred, Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, and Princess Hohenlohe attenthd Divine service at Osborne. The Rev. G. Prothero officiated. Colonel H. Ponsonby has succeeded Lieut.-Col. the Hon. D. de Ros as Equerry in Waiting. The Prince and Princess of Wales. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales crossed from Osborne to Portsmouth on Saturday morning in the Royal yacht Fairy, Cap• tain his Serene Highness the Prince of Leinengen, and landed at the Royal Clarence yard. Their Royal Highnesses left at 2.20 p.m. for Windsor, attended by the Countess of Macclesfield and General Knollys. Their Royal Highnesses travelled by the ordinary train from Gosport to Basingstoke, and from Bas ingstoke to Windsor, by special train, in the Royal saloon carriage. A leige number of the most re spectuble inhabitants assembled on the platform to witness the arrival of their Royal Highnesses, who appeared in excellent health. There was no guard of honour, and their Royal Highnesses and suite proceeded through the town to Frogmore Lodge whilst merry peals were rung on the bells of St. George and St. John's Churches. Yesterday the Prince and Princess of Wales at tended Divine service at the Cnapel Royal, St. George, attended by the Countess of Macclesfield, General Knollys, and several other members of their Royal Highness's suite. The Prince occupied his own stall as Knight of the Garter, and the Princess the adjoining stall. The service, by King, in 13 flat, was intoned by the Rev. Mr, Tapisfield and the Rev. Seymour Neville, who also read the lessons. The Hon. and Very Rev, the Dean of Windsor was present, and the chapel was crowded by a most re spectable congregation, many of whom had to stand during the whole time of the service. THE FAMILY OF KINGS, The following is a tabular list of the thirty' nine reigning sovereigns of Europe, divided into three sections, namely, those of purely German birth and education, those of German descent, and those not German, but more or less allied, to German families. The last, as the least numerous, deserves precedence. NON , GERMAN SOTEREIGNS. France Italy Portugal Spain Sweden al SOVEREIGNS OF C Great Britain Netherlands Ld Norway. ERMA.N DESCENT. • Portugal Russia SOVERIGNS BORN AND Anhalt Austria Baden DUCATED IN GERMANY. Mecklenburg-Strelitz Nassau Oldenburg Reuss- Greiz Schleiz Saxe-Altenburg „ Coburg- Gotha Meiningen „ Weimar Bavaria Belgium Brunswick Denmark Greece Hanover Hesse-Cassel ~ Darmstadt Howburg Lichtenstein If Lippe-Detmold Waldeck Memilenburg-Schwerin Wurtemberg It is a not uninteresting fact in connection with this list, that, while the actual number of reigning European sovereigns has decreased by six within as many years, five of these sovereigns, of Modenfl' Monaco, Naples, Parma, and Tuscany belonged to the first of the above three classes. So that ev o the Italian war of Independence has contributed to the comparative increase of pure Teutonic blood among the sovereign families of Europe. —Spec• tator. Saxony Schaumburg-Lippe Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt Sonctershausell We believe that Parliament will meet for the despatch of business on Thursday, the 4th of February.-- Observer. OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS.—Mr. G. Bracken bury, her Majesty's Consul at Madrid, has been appointed Consul at Charente. The consulship at Madrid will;not be filled up. Mr. Ricketts has been appointed Consul at Sarawak. The Rev. John Renwick is appointed asoistaa t and successor to the Rev. John Ramsay, minister of the church and parish of Gladsmuir.—Observer. LORD PALMERSTON.—We regret to state that the noble Premier's non-attendance at the Cabinet Council. on Saturday was owing to a somewhat sharp attack of gout. His lordship remains at his seat, Broadlands, lianto• The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrived in London on Saturday afternoon, from Hawarden castle , Chester. The Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson arrived ill town on Saturday, from the seat of Viscount Palmerston► Broadlands, Hants. Vice:Admiral Sir M. Seymour, coin' mender-in .chief, and Major-General Lord Wm. P au iet, C. 8., commanding the south-western district, embarked oa hoard the Fire Queen, steam-yacht, Staff-Commander Paul, on Saturday morning, and proceeded to Oslorne, to yap their respects to her Majesty. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Di s raeli have left Grosvenor-gate for Mentmore, Bucks, on a visit to Baron and Baroness de Rothschild. THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE is ill, and intaoUr o that he will resign before the meeting of Parliament ar e multiplying fast. THE PALACE OF THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES PRINCE AND PRINCESS LOUIS OF HESSE, Deltg . STADT.—A palace is being built in Darmstadt, a descrir tion of which cannot fail to be of interest to our reader* as it is destined to become the home of a member of the royal family. It is the palace of their Royal High nesses Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse. The 0 1 building will form a p rom i nen t f ea t ure in the town o} , Darmstadt by its size and position. The site (a large garden of 350 ft. by 1,500 ft.) is the property of the Crown ; it was formerly used for botanical purposes, 00° will now be laid out as a garden for the use of the prints and princess. The east end of the site faces the Withel' minenplatz, a handsome square, with the Cathoii° church, a cupola-covered structure, designed by the late esteemed architect Moller. To the west the garden e' tends to another square, called Marienplatz, while toward ° the north and south it is bounded by two broad street* from which it is separated by rows of chestnat trees, Being , ' moreover, situate in the highest part of the town, with a gentle slope from east to west, this garden combines all 0 0 advantages of a site at once healthy and beautiful. Th e view from the first floor of the pal ace , over th e gar d en and the wide valley of the Rhine towaras the hills of the Pala' tinate, the hills near Mayence, and the Taunus mountain* is truly charming. The building stands at a distance of 120 feet from the east end of the garden, It consists of 13 principal or centre part, and two adjoining wings ; the bae l ‘ elevation, or garden front of the former, being enriched Di ci a projectin g r ot un d a , w i nge d on b ot h s id es b y terraces 0 0d flights of steps leading to the garden. The principal from teeing the Wilhelminen-square, has a projecting entrance ; porch, constructed f or carr i ages to drive under it, th at visitors may alight under cover. This porch forms a 51 3 t ic cious balcony, with a balustrade on the top. The wails e i the bailding are constructed of brickwork. The rusticate° plinth, the columns, the archivolts, the architraves, and O r nicer are of red sandstone from the quarries of the Ocle tl i wald and the banks of the Main. The decorative p a rts e e the cornices, as dentils, &c., the capitals of the eolurol i and pilastres, the balustrades, the sculptured frieze, havil medallions with trophies and other suitable emblems, a ti i the festoons are executed in terracotta. Of the extern s decorations, the rose, shamrock, and thistle, the Hessi an °. arms surrounded by the garter, and the E ng li s h arms, N°6 form characteristic and ornamental p ar t s. Th e s tyli) l e Italian, and more purely carried out th an i s usua lly th e case on the Continent. The building is being executed fr°l the design and under the superint en d ence o f th e arc hitect ° their Royal Highnesses, Mr. Conrad Kraus, of Mayell ees and will be finished in the autumn of 1864.—Btoilder. THE NATIONAL SHAKSPERE COMMITTEE.--- 91 , 3 Granville, Lord President o f the Privy C ou ncil, so d the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of London have a ccept% office as Vice-Presidents. The following gentlemen ll ° joined the Committee—The Rcv. Thomas Corser, of DI/ . chester, James Spence, Esq., of Liverpool, HenrY Bright, Eq., of Liverpool, S. R. Solly, Esq., G. Viei oo ; Esq., Princ ess ' s Th ea t re , J ames A n d erson , Esq., 6urreA, Theatre, G B. Martin, Esq , Exeter-hall, and J' M 1). M. GOUNOD'S " CECILIAN MASS" was perior.- at the Protestant Church cf St. Andrews, Wells-stree t, a Midnight Service on Christmas Evel i